The JETAA UK Annual General Meeting was held at JLGC’s London office in Whitehall on 5-6 March, with representatives from the UK’s four current active chapters, all discussing events and activities over the last year and strategies to improve engagement and member attendance at events in 2016. JETAA UK is a grassroots voluntary not-for-profit organisation working with JLGC and the Embassy of Japan in the UK, supporting links between the two countries through activities and events. These are all organised by volunteers from some 10,000 former participants in the JET Programme, many of whom work in Japanese companies as well as UK businesses working with Japan.
JETAA UK AGM 2016
Discussion over the weekend included better use of social media and putting together content for members to engage with on line, the JETAA mentoring project linking newly returned ex JETs with experienced professionals in a variety of roles, Japan related and others, developing links with Japanese organisations and UK businesses with Japan links, as well as organising events with other Japan-interest groups. This is already being done by advertising Japan related jobs on the JETAA website, discussing with Japanese employers how to recruit former JETs, and lobbying for former JETs to be more actively employed by Japanese firms in the UK and Europe. The UK committee elections were also held for 2016.
JETAA also liaises with the Embassy of Japan in the UK, organising ‘unofficial’ pre-departure orientations and social events every year for new participants in the programme, where those soon off to Japan can discuss the reality of life in Japan with alumni in a relaxed environment; an annual barbecue in Edinburgh organised by the Scotland chapter, Japanese cocktail night in Manchester and a very popular Q&A day and reception for participants and their parents organised in London by the chapter in the capital, one of the largest regional chapters in the world, to name but a few of the regular events over the last couple of years. 2016 is the 30th Anniversary of the JET Programme, with over 60,000 young graduates being recruited through embassies and placed in local authorities throughout all of Japan’s 47 prefectures and municipalities, as Assistant Language Teachers, and Coordinators for International Relations, in Boards of Education, state schools and city halls/prefecture head offices. The JETAA UK committee is currently discussing potential anniversary activities, including possible collaboration with European chapters in Ireland, Germany and France.
JETAA is a great resource for anyone interested in links with Japan, be they business, cultural, social or interest based, such as the environment or language learning, with alumni working in every kind of employment in the public and private sector. Recent activities have included organising events with universities and Japanese corporations on sustainability, charity quizzes raising money for the areas hit by the Tohoku earthquake, seminars on employability as well as advising Japanese employers on market conditions and trends and recruitment of UK graduates. All events are organised on an entirely not-for-profit basis by volunteers. Anyone interested in potential collaborations, including individual funding applications for events and activities, are welcome to discuss ideas for working together by contacting the UK committee via treasurer@jetaa.org.uk.
